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The Devil's Footprints: A Novel
Michael Gardiner has lived in Coldhaven all his life yet still feels like an outsider. Married but rather distant from his wife, he reads in the local paper that a school friend, Moira Birnie, has killed herself and her two sons by setting their car on fire; but she has spared her 14-year-old daughter Hazel. Michael uneasily recalls his past connections to Moira. As teenag...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
January 22nd 2008
by Nan A. Talese
(first published March 1st 2007)
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It's always a good idea to read a novel by any author who is primarily a poet, a view which this
compellingly written first person narrative of family secrets and tragic events in a remote, coastal Scottish town has done nothing to dispel.
The devil's footprints relate to an old folk story about cloven hooves in virgin snow, seemingly originating from the shore and discovered in the streets and across the rooftops of Coldhaven, the small fishing village where the action is set. The devil can appe...more
compellingly written first person narrative of family secrets and tragic events in a remote, coastal Scottish town has done nothing to dispel.
The devil's footprints relate to an old folk story about cloven hooves in virgin snow, seemingly originating from the shore and discovered in the streets and across the rooftops of Coldhaven, the small fishing village where the action is set. The devil can appe...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
This is an excellent book, although I don't think it quite comes up to the level of "The Glister." The central character takes a journey with a 15 yr old girl whose mother has recently set fire to her own car and burned herself and her two younger children. This oldest girl, she left in the forest. Now, this girl may or may not be the principal character's daughter (most probably not) - but, as it turns out, she is simply manipulating the protagonist to get to where and with whom she wants to be...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Dec 31, 2011
Ernest Junius
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
art graduates
Shelves:
tragedy
If you asked me about Burnside's writing skills I'd give you 5 stars.
I'm not sure about the story. Not sure that I like it; not sure that I find it interesting; not sure that I feel comfortable reading it; not sure that I actually learn anything from it.
Story aside (I want to talk more about the brighter side of the book: Burnside's writing style), I think the book are filled with strings of brilliant proses and syntaxes. Sometimes it could get boring though—not sure if it's the side effect of t...more
I'm not sure about the story. Not sure that I like it; not sure that I find it interesting; not sure that I feel comfortable reading it; not sure that I actually learn anything from it.
Story aside (I want to talk more about the brighter side of the book: Burnside's writing style), I think the book are filled with strings of brilliant proses and syntaxes. Sometimes it could get boring though—not sure if it's the side effect of t...more
Most of these stars are for Burnside's delicious writing style; I reveled in every sentence. The story was intriguing but I am not sure how much I believed it, ultimately. The protagonist keeps things couched so deeply inside himself that I suspect the change he makes at the end is not his ultimate epiphany. That's vague, I know, but I don't want to give anything away. Anyhow, I really did enjoy this novel. It was a very fast read and I look forward to reading more by Burnside, both fiction and...more
3.7 stars to be accurate. I liked the writing, precise and poetic (good on weather, birds, limepits, bullies, villagers and houses). I liked the 'descent into madness', I liked the way the writer withheld information until just the right moment, keeping you hooked. But the plot seemed a bit of a mish-mash of various other books I'd read, mainly 'Lolita' (acknowledged). But a nice afternoon read (about 200 pages)...
A hapless man has a sort of inexplicable mid-life crisis involving a girl who might or might not be his daughter. The writing is just fine (the author is well-known as a poet) and there were some really intriguing sections, such as the narrator's relationship to his small town, but the plot failed to move me. 4 points for the writing, 2 points for the plot - average 3 points.
Starts out interestingly (reminded me of early Ian McEwan), but in the end seems to be a mish mash of events w/out any of it really coming together in the end. Unlike some others here, I found his writing to be over-blown, not beautiful (he is a poet first and foremost). Disappointing, and I won't be reading any of his others books.
I'd give this one 3 1/2 if I could -- parts of it had the promise of greatness. Crisp sharp writing that turns an unexpected corner and makes you go, wow. But there were moments of waxing philosophical that just didn't work, and odd plot inconistencies that marred the careful tightness of the book.
Very enjoyable book, found by chance on a bargain table at the local bookshop. Burnside's style is sparse but poetic; I liked it. The story is interesting and doesn't follow the rules of a bestseller - there is no major climax towards which everything builds up. The protagonist looks back on the past with feelings of regret. The lasting impression is that nothing has been resolved but life must go on.
Short novel by poet John Burnside. Found it just a bit of a "mid-life crisis" tale rather than the existential angst the blurb made it out to be. Interesting rather than intriguing.
Bikin alis berkerut2. Intinya sesibuk apa pun kita, selalu luangkan waktu buat anak, klo gak mau anaknya kayak si Michael ini, uda dewasa masih labil kayak ABG :P
Burnside can write some gorgeous sentences, and writes achingly beautiful descriptions of the outdoors and nature. But his storytelling skills just don't do it for me.
A surprisingly good book considering nothing much really happens. But the characterization and plotting keep it moving and draw you in.
Read my review on my blog:
http://www.50ayear.com/2012/05/26/13-...
http://www.50ayear.com/2012/05/26/13-...
This book was awful.
Beautifully written and compelling story, fascinating characters... everything you want, all wrapped up in a neat package. Took all of one day to read, but still sticks with me; I guess that's what 'haunting' means.
Curieux et beau.
Very good. Williamtrevorish.
The prose in this book is beautiful. The story is heartbreaking.
Couldn't tell if the over-usage of commas was purposeful or not. Too many commas really bug me.
Other than that, it started off good but I think it got increasingly worse as the book progressed. Still ok though.
Other than that, it started off good but I think it got increasingly worse as the book progressed. Still ok though.
Apr 08, 2013
Janika
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
j-nnitys,
2-tahtea,
2013-luetut,
englanniksi,
kesken,
kirjat-jotka-omistin,
murhat,
pokkarit,
rikokset,
tulipalot,
vakivalta,
vintage
Tämä ei ollut vaan mun "juttu". Kirja ei ole huono, jotenkin sen englanti vaati ehkä likaa minusta tai sitten mulla ei nyt ole oikein innostusta tähän. Etsiskelen joskos löytyisi suomennettuna. Jäi kesken.
Jun 18, 2008
Ateran
added it
Beautifully written, insightful and just a little bit twisted. It had some similarities and allusions to Lolita which I liked. The ending was a little anti-climatic but fit the overall tone of the book.
This was completely unexpected; I thought it would be one book, and it was another, and I loved that.
I didn't think there was any story to it at all so I was very disappointed with it
A decent read, worth your time for the summer.
May 19, 2013
Desirae
marked it as to-read
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John Burnside is the author of nine collections of poetry and five works of fiction. Burnside has achieved wide critical acclaim, winning the Whitbread Poetry Award in 2000 for The Asylum Dance which was also shortlisted for the Forward and T. S. Eliot prizes. Born in Scotland, he moved away in 1965, returning to settle there in 1995. In the intervening period he worked as a factory hand, a labour...more
More about John Burnside...
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